Bangladesh - Denial of medical leave causes death/stillbirth (2011)

Garment workers at Dress World, Ltd, Vertex Group, at Savar protested on 26 July over the workers’ claim that the factory denied sick leave to Hamuyun Kabir, 25, a quality inspector, when he became ill at work. After the denial, Humayun lost consciousness and was rushed to Jamal Clinic, where he was declared dead. Garment workers from Hong Kong-based Uttara Sweater Manufacturing Company Ltd at Uttara export processing zone (EPZ) at Shangalshi in Nilphamari protested on 19 December at the Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner’s over a number of work issues. One issue involved a recent incident where company officials refused to grant sick leave to a pregnant woman who later had a stillbirth in the factory’s lavatory.